Multiple-compartment tray



H. R. WEISS MULTIPLE-COMPARTMENT TRAY March 2, 1965 {a Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1961 x K R I V .7 1 a K 5 7 4 INVENTOR zit/a. Y \Z ATTORNEYS March 2, 1965 H. R. WEISS NULTIPLE-COMPARTMENT my 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1961 INVENTOR Hugh R. Weiss BY% 4? ,ww $51M ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fia,

INVENTQR Hugh R.Weiss a im ,ueaz ATTORNEYS March 2, 1965 H. R. WEISS MULTIPLE-CGMPARTMENT TRAY Filed Sept. 25, 1961 United States Patent 3,171,562 liiULTIlLE-COMFARTMENT TRAY Hugh R. Weiss, Montclair, NJ assigns: to The Printagate *Conipany, Passaic, N..I., a corporation of New ersey Fled Sept. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 146,375 1 Claim. (Ci. 2l726.5)

The present invention relates to multiple-compartment trays or dividers formed from thin sheets of a thermoplastic resinous material, such as polyvinyl chloride or the like, and more particularly to plastic trays having cupshaped portions and marginal portions with pleats therein to facilitate expansion of individual compartments.

The tray of this invention is formed with parallel rows of cup-shaped portions for receiving fruit or various other articles. The cups are preferably arranged in parallel longitudinal, transverse and diagonal rows so that each inner cup is surrounded by six upwardly projecting hol low posts and has walls formed by the Walls of said posts and the partitions between succeeding posts. The walls of the posts and the partitions are pleated to permit expansion and contraction of the cups. The partitions are preferably pleated to permit an increase or decrease in the distance between successive posts. The trays are provided with an upwardly projecting marginal flange which is also pleated to facilitate expansion of the cups.

An object of the invention is to provide an attractive compartmented plastic tray which will protect fragile or perishable articles, such as fruits, cookies and candies, and will accommodate articles of substantially dilierent sizes due to the ability of the individual cups or compartments to expand materially.

Another object of the invention is to improve the structure of plastic trays so as to obtain maximum expansion and contraction of the individual cups thereof.

Other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claim and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view on a reduced scale showing a plastic tray according to this invention, the major portion thereof being srown schematically;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the tray of FIGURE 1 on the same scale;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and on a larger scale;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, top plan View similar to FIGURE 1 and on a larger scale;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURES 1 and 4 and on the same scale as FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a modified form of fruit tray similar to the tray of FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view With parts omitted taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 7 and on the same scale;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view on a reduced scale showing another modified form of tray, the major port-ion thereof being shown schematically for convenience;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary top plan View showing a portion of the tray of FIGURE 9 on a larger scale; and

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary vertical sectional view with parts omitted taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10 and on the same scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which are drawn substantially to scale and in which like parts are identified by the same numerals throughout the several views, FIGURES 1 and 2 show a 24-count plastic tray A constructed according to the present invention and suitable for the packaging of fruit whose size varies somewhat. The tray is formed by the vacuum molding of flat sheets of uniform thickness as disclosed, for example, in United States Patent No. 2,902,718. The tray A may be formed of polyvinyl chloride or similar vinyl resins or various other thermoplastic materials as is well understood in the art.

As herein shown, the tray A is molded so as to provide six rows of cup-shaped portions, each row containing four cups or pockets in alignment. The first row contains cups 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the second row contains cups 5, 6, 7 and 8, which are adjacent to and diagonally disposed relative to the cups of the first row. The third row contains cups 9, ll 11 and 12, which are longitudinally aligned with the cups ll, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, and are also located adjacent the cups of the second row. The cup portions 6 and 7 of the second row and the cup portions ill and 11 of the third row are identified herein as inner cups. It will be noted that the 24 cups are also located in parallel diagonal rows. Thus, one diagonal row contains the cups 2, 7, ll, Illl, 8 and l which are in alignment within the row.

Each cup of the tray A is thus in alignment with a series of other cups in one of the six transverse rows and also in alignment with a pair of other cups in the eight longitudinal rows. Each inner cup is surrounded by six other cups and six upwardly projecting hollow posts 16 and 17 as shown in FIGURE 4. Each cup of the tray thus has a generally circular (polygonal) horizontal cross section.

At the margins of the tray, the posts terminate a substantial distance from the bottom walls 14 of the cups 1 to 12. As herein shown, the tray has a series of short outer posts 15 at each end of the tray and similar short hollow posts 13 and 19 at the sides of the tray. The tray is provided with a vertical marginal flange 21 of uniform width, which has an upper edge 22 terminating in a horizontal plane parallel to the horizontal plane containing the bottom walls 14 of the cups. As herein shown, the upper portions of all of the posts T5 to 19 are of substantially the same size and shape, the posts 37 and 19 being of the same size and shape as the posts 16 and i8, respectively, but being reversed. The upper surfaces of all of the posts are located in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane containing the edge 22 and located a small fraction of an inch below said edge.

Relatively small fiat ledges 23 are provided at the ends of the tray adjacent the posts 15, and relatively large ledges 24 are provided at two corners of the tray. A pair of large ledges 25 are also provided at the sides of the tray outwardly of the posts 18 and I9.

Partitions 27 are provided between adjacent posts to connect the adjacent cups. Each partition 27 has di verging walls 28 and is extremely narrow at the top as shown in FIGURE 5. The walls 28 and the walls 29 of the posts 16 and i7 define the Walls of the inner cup. The walls 23 are each provided with three flutes or pleats 31 which extend from the bottom wall 14 to the top of one wall 28, horizontally over the top portion 36 of the partition, as best shown in FIGURE 5, and downwardly to the bottom of the adjacent wall 23. Each wall 29 of the posts 16 and 17 has three flutes or pleats 32 which extend vertically less than the height of the partitions 27 as shown in FIGURE 5.

The posts 15, 18 and 19 are also pleated at the cup walls like the posts 16 and 17 so that all of the cups are of substantially the same size and shape.

The pleated construction of the cups of the tray A is highly advantageous since it permits expansion of each cup a substantial amount and thereby permis use of the tray for many different sizes of fruit. The construction of the pleats 31 is such as to permit expansion of the cups between the adjacent posts 16 and 17 and actually permits substantial separation of such adjacent posts while resisting separation sufliciently to maintain the general shape of the tray.

The tops 30 of the partitions 27 are a substantial distance below the tops of the posts 15 to 19 as shown in FIGURE 5. As herein shown, all of the partitions are of the same height, but it will be understood that the heights of the partitions may be varied considerably and that the partitions in certain diagonal rows may, if desired, be of a different height than the partitions of other diagonal rows.

The marginal flange 21 has a multiplicity of vertical pleats 38 which are continuations of the lateral pleats 36. The flange 21 also has vertical pleats 34 which are vertical extensions of the pleats 31a of the outer cups '1, 2, 3, and 4 and vertical pleats 39 which are vertical extensions of the pleats 31a of the outer cups 1, and 9 and as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

If desired, the peripheral Walls of the end cups 1 to 4 may be provided with radially outwardly projecting portions forming channels of substantial width to facilitate expansion of the cups adjacent the end edge of the tray. As herein shown, the tray A is provided with vertical channels 26 of rounded cross section on opposite sides of each set of the pleats 34 of each end cup. The channels 26 extend the full distance from the upper surface of the ledge 23 to the bottom wall 14 of the cup. Two of the channels 26 are located adjacent each post as best shown in FIGURE 1. V The horizontal ledges may be constructed to permit expansion and construction of the adjacent cups. As herein shown, each ledge 25 has two sets of pleats extending diagonally parallel to the diagonal rows of cups but terminating short of the marginal flange 21. Each ledge 25 also is provided with pleats 36 which extend laterally from the pleats 31 of the cup 8 or 12 to the marginal flange 21 as shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that the pleats 35 and 36 may be omitted if desired. Figures 7 and 8 show a modified form of tray A which is constructed the same as the tray A except in the region of the ledge 25a and in the region of the bottom wall 14a. These figures show only 4 cups (1a, 2a, 8a, and 9a) of the tray, it being understood that the other cups are made in the same 'way. The marginal flange 21a is the same as the marginal flange 21 except that the pleats 38 are omitted. The ledge 25a has the same height as the ledge 25 but is flat and is notched to accommodate two vertical chan-' nels 126 and one intermediate vertical channel 226 as shown in FIGURE 7. The channel 226 is located between the posts 18 and 19 and the similar channels 126 are each located adjacent one of said posts.

The channels 126 and 226 have the same size and shape as the channels 26 and extend the full height of the cups to facilitate expansion of the cups. Each channel preferably has a rounded cross section and preferably extends circumferentially a distance greater than the width of the posts 15 to 19 and usually not substantially less than 30 along the circumference of the cup. Each channel is relatively wide as compared to the other pleats of the tray and may, for example, have a length only 2 to 5 times its width, but it will be understood that such width may vary considerably,

It will be understood that the tray A of FIGURES 1 to 6 may be constructed like the tray A in the region of the ledge 25 and provided with the channels 126 and 226 without modifying the flat bottom walls 14. It will also be understood that the tray A or A may be provided with spiral or concentric corrugations or with radial pleats or corrugations similar to those of the tray A, that the tray A may be constructed like the tray A in the region of the bottom walls 14. As herein shown, the bottom wall 14a of each cup is radially corrugated to facilitate expansion of the bottom wall and to strengthen the bottom wall. The arrangement of the corrugations or pleats may vary considerably. It is preferred, however, to extend the vertical pleats 31 and 32 horizontally across the bottom wall to obtain the desired expansibility of such bottom wall. As shown in FIG- URE 7, the bottom wall 14a is provided with radial pleats 131, 131, 132, 133, and 133 the longer pleats 131 and 133 terminating adjacent the center of the cup. The pleats 131 and 131' are horizontal extensions of the pleats 31. The pleats 132 extend from the bottom of the central pleat 32 to a point near the central portion of the cup.

FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 show a modified form of tray A constructed according to the present invention which may be used to package cookies, candy or the like. This tray is formed from a single sheet of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride or other suitable plastic material like the trays A and A and is provided with a narrow horizontal marginal flange 41 of rectangular outline. The tray A shown herein is provided with 15 cups or pockets of generally rectangular form but it will be understood that a similar type of construction may be employed when oblong or non-symmetrical cups are provided in the tray. The tray A has eight posts 42 spaced from the flange 41, twelve generally triangular ledges 43, and four corner ledges 43, the ledges 43 and 43 being located adjacent the flange 41. If desired, such ledges may be horizontal continuations of said flange. The tray A is similar to the trays A and A in that the double Wall partitions between the posts are pleated to facilitate expansion of the cups. The wavy partitions 44 of the tray A do not have a corrugated upper surface similar to the partitions of the previously described trays but, nevertheless, the wavy shape of the partitions does greatly facilitate expansion of the cups. Thus, it is not necessary to eliminate difference in the sizes of the cookies, candy, cherries or other articles placed in the tray. This facilitates packaging of candy whose size and shape varies considerably due to blobs of chocolate.

It is preferable to notch the partition 44 as shown, for example, in FIGURES 10 and 11 so that the central portion of the partition has a concave upper surface 45 which terminates at the edges 46. The surface 45 may have an arcuate shape, if desired.

FIGURE 9 shows the tray schematically and shows the details of only four cups a, b, c and d, it being understood that the other cups are constructed in the same manner. Each cup has a peripheral wall 48 provided with a multiplicity of pleats 49 which extend from the top of the tray to the flat bottom Wall 50 of each cup. The pleats 49 are closely spaced throughout the periphery of each cup to facilitate expansion of the cup while at the same time reinforcing he tray to resist vertical compression. FIG- URES 10 and 11 are drawn to scale to facilitate an understanding of the invention but it will be understood that the sizeand shape of the tray may vary considerably. The 15-count tray A shown herein has a length of about 10 inches, a width of about 6 inches and a height of about 1.5 inches. The average width of each partition 44 at the end thereof is preferably 0.05 to 0.15 inch, and the average height of each partition is preferably 10 to 25 times said average width, but the size may vary considerably depending on the thickness of the sheet material and the size of each cup.

The thickness of each of the one-piece trays A, A and A may vary considerably while still having the necessary flexibility, but such trays are usually formed from a sheet of polyvinyl chloride or similar vinyl resin having a uniform thickness of 0.0015 to 0.020 inch (preferably about 0.002 to 0.010 inch).

The width of the pleats of the trays A, A and A may vary considerably. However, the pleats 3t, 32, 49, 131, 13?. and 1 3 of such trays are usually relatively narrow and may, for example, have a length to 20 times their average width.

It will be understood that the above description is by way of illustration rather than limitation and that, in accordance with the provisions of the patent laws, variations and modifications of the specific articles disclosed herein may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A molded one-piece multiple-compartment tray for candy or cookies formed from a thin sheet of thermoplastic material having a uniform thickness of 0.002 to 0.010 inch, said tray having a multiplicity of closely spaced generally rectangular cup-shaped portions, each inner cup having 4 vertically projecting hollow posts spaced around its periphery, the portions of the tray between successive posts comprising narrow vertical partitions having two wall portions of wavy shape which form part of the peripheral walls of two adjacent cups, each of said last-named wall portions being generally rectangular and having a multiplicity of closely spaced narrow pleats throughout its length which extend from the top of the partition to the flat bottom wall of the cup to resist vertical compression, each partition having an average horizontal width of 0.05 to 0.15 inch and an average vertical height which is about 10 to times said width, each of the narrow pleats of said partitions having a length 10 to 20 times its average Width, the width of the partitions being substantially uniform along the length of each partition, one opposed pair of partitions of each of said cup-shaped; portions being generally parallel and having concave upper surfaces of arcuate shape.

References fitted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,850,584 3/32 Gray 217-265 2,014,851 9/35 Kronenberger 217-265 2,236,675 4/41 De Reamer 217-265 2,885,136 5/59 Grant 229-25 2,974,788 3/ 61 Robbins 229-25 3,131,846 5/64 Whiteford 229-29 FOREIGN PATENTS 205,916 10/59 Austria.

815,204 6/59 Great Britain.

841,381 7/60 Great Britain.

849,180 9/60 Great Britain.

94,278 5/60 Netherlands.

r THERON E. CCNDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

